Project information

Spark 2019

Spark 2019 will provide diverse arts opportunities for 5-25 year olds from Waverley Borough, Surrey who are socially disadvantaged, vulnerable and battling financial inequalities, through outreach sessions in visual and performance arts culminating in a 2-day festival to celebrate their work.

Charity information: Farnham Maltings

Need

1810 young people live in poverty in Waverley, (6.9% of all 0-19 year olds). 637 children and young people aged 0-24 provide unpaid care at home. The majority are young people (16-24). We have worked extensively with looked after children and young carers, who simply cannot afford or access arts activities due to caring duties, no money or moving from home to home, despite wanting to. Emotional and Mental Health concerns are increasing; isolation, self harm and fear of failure with no outlets.

Solution

We will use the transformative power of the arts to support the social, personal and educational well-being of our children and young people. 6 community outreach projects will be delivered by industry professionals with work showcased at multiple festivals and events. Sessions will develop interpersonal/job skills, build independence, & resilience. We will work with borough wide agencies to identify areas of most need and involve participants in all creative decisions to build self-confidence

Aim 1

Improve life quality for vulnerable young people 5-25 through outreach participatory arts programme

Activities

» Run 6 community arts outreach projects delivered by industry led professionals to create new work and opportunities, showcasing at local events. » Enable young people to drive the creative processes by selecting their art form, articulating their ideas, planning, design and implementing as a team » Document the projects through a film (made by participants) so that children & young people have a record of their participation for CVs and posterity

What success will look like

Children and Young People who has take part in Spark projects will have improved health, wellbeing and training opportunities and will continue to participate in the arts.

Aim 2

Strengthen partnerships with community groups/organisations to widen reach and impact on individuals

Activities

» Consult with local services / Waverley Borough Council, SCC Families Team, networks to target groups/individuals that have identified as most in need » Make positive connections with groups / communities through consultation and conversations and support their engagement/involvement » Visit groups/locations to showcase Spark programme describe what it may offer to young people in most need

What success will look like

Spark projects will be set up in new areas through new partnerships/connections forged with community groups/organisations, widening the reach/impact on children and young people.

Aim 3

Develop and promote further opportunities for children and young people to continue participation

Activities

» Signpost Young People aged 15yrs+ to 'Into the Arts'–run with The Surrey Virtual School which gives YP a chance to broaden creative opportunities. » Implement a youth arts forum for children & young People to share ideas and interests and influence future opportunities across communities. » Develop a sustainable fundraising strategy for a long-term and geographically wider programme.

What success will look like

Participating young people continue to engage in extra curricular arts activities or go on to formal arts apprenticeships and have increased employment opportunities.

Aim 4

Improve community cohesion through inter generational workshops and activities at Spark Festival

Activities

» Run 8 free multi-art form workshops for ages 5–25 (dance, drama, animation, mixed media etc.) and 3 free workshops for families to do together. » Programme and present Spark Youth and Community show performed and created by children and young people » Programme and present a live professional family theatre show with participants, that is free to attend.

What success will look like

Families and communities will spend more quality time together, have improved relationships and be happier and healthier through participating in physical/creative arts activities

Impact

We will work with 6 community groups to create regular arts outreach projects (3 existing/past groups & 3 new partnerships/community groups /organisations). This will widen the reach and impact to children and young people countywide. 100 children & young people will take part in these further outreach projects.
Over 800 people will participate in Spark Festival with 5% of children & young people who have taken part, continuing participation in the arts through our signposting onto new schemes.

Risk

Part time working staff/inconsistency of staff
Staff / organisations resources / time to support project if it falls out of normal working days / times
Lack of take up
Funds
Mitigation
Clear, careful forward planning
Clear, informative communication and understanding of projects/programmes from the outset so the workload/management is transparent & any issues are addressed in advance.
Partnership agreement identifies expectations.
Work with community groups to secure audiences.
ACE match funds

Reporting

Monthly reports form project deliverer/manager
Send all Spark partners advisory meeting minutes where relevant to their investment
360 evaluation to ensure all donors have monitoring/evaluation records as project progresses
End of project evaluation
Film, press, images, social media

Beneficiaries

Our primary beneficiaries are children &young people (7-25) in areas of need. We will provide access for them to positive and focused arts activities.
Professional artists will have long-term projects & opportunities to develop skills and understand delivering arts projects within social contexts to benefit children & young people.
Communities; encourage young people to develop new friendships, stronger links within families/community.
Local organisations: to look at new ways of engaging YP.

Why Us?

Our dedicated community outreach programme has already widened opportunities for communities by enabling professional practitioners to work with local groups/organisations to provide young people in Waverley, who can't access the arts, with opportunities to explore and create new work. Our staff are highly experienced and committed . Our successful youth participation scheme is dedicated to equality of arts access for young people via apprenticeships, extracurricular activities and outreach.

People

Emma Jones

Youth Participation Producer, Spark Coordinator

Sue Skerrit

Partner - Action for Carers / Surrey Young Carers

Gavin Stride

CEO of Farnham Maltings

All the young people I spoke to last night really benefited from the drama and opportunities. What an amazing experience you have all given them, thank you. Your empathy, encouragement and creation of a safe space is an experience they will not forget and seeing their names on screen as well

Sue Skerritt – Action for Carers – Surrey Young Carers

The project helped the young people havepride and ownership of their youth hut, it created positive promotion of the youth project within the community and it would not have been possible to make over the youth hut without the support from Farnham Maltings' SPARK. We could not have asked for more!